ExploreMapCompareBlogSign in

Schools in 95121 — San Jose, California

95121 has 7 ranked schools averaging a Scope Score of 49.4 — 5.6 points above the California state average of 43.8. Scores range from 27.4 to 76.4, a 49.0-point spread. 1 school ranks in the 90th percentile or above statewide.

Avg Scope Score
49.4
State avg: 43.8
SchoolScope composite
Score Range
49.0
27.4 – 76.4
Avg Exceeded %
25.2%
State avg: 21.6%
Chronic Absenteeism
14.5%
State avg: 18.1%
Schools Ranked
7
With Scope Scores

How 95121 schools perform

The top-ranked school is James Franklin Smith Elementary with a Scope Score of 76 and 57.4% of students exceeding standard.

High-ceiling zip code: Schools here average 25.2% exceeding standard — well above the statewide average of 21.6%. These schools aren't just meeting proficiency; they're pushing students beyond it.

Chronic absenteeism across 95121 averages 14.5%, above the state average of 18.1%.

How 95121 compares to nearby zip codes

Zip CodeCitySchoolsAvg Scorevs 95121
95121San Jose7Developing
49.4/100
95120San Jose8Strong
72.9/100
+23.5
95122San Jose7Developing
36.4/100
-13.0
95123San Jose13Developing
46.5/100
-2.9
95118San Jose9Solid
54.3/100
+4.9
95124San Jose11Strong
70.6/100
+21.2

School archetypes in 95121

1 High Ceiling1 Strong All-Around1 Growth Engine1 On the Rise3 Building Momentum

Hidden gems: 2 schools in 95121 are classified as Growth Engine or On the Rise — showing positive growth trajectories that raw proficiency scores alone don't capture. These are schools where students leave with more than they arrived with.

Archetypes are data-driven labels based on Scope Score dimensions. Learn more

All schools in 95121

#SchoolExceededScore
1James Franklin Smith Elementary
Evergreen Elementary High Ceiling
57.4%Strong
76/100
2Silver Creek High
East Side Union High Strong All-Around
28.4%Solid
66/100
3Cadwallader Elementary
Evergreen Elementary Growth Engine
37.1%Solid
61/100
4Windmill Springs Elementary
Franklin-McKinley Elementary Building Momentum
21.3%Developing
44/100
5John J. Montgomery Elementary
Evergreen Elementary Building Momentum
13.6%Developing
38/100
6Stonegate Elementary
Franklin-McKinley Elementary Building Momentum
9.8%Developing
33/100
7O. B. Whaley Elementary
Evergreen Elementary On the Rise
9.0%Needs Support
27/100

Schools in 95121 on the map

Data source: California Department of Education · CAASPP 2024-25 · Methodology

Scores are SchoolScope's analysis of public data, not official CDE ratings. They represent one way of interpreting test results and should not be the sole basis for school decisions.

What Scope Scores can't tell you about 95121

  • Class sizes and student-teacher interaction quality
  • Quality of arts, music, athletics, and enrichment programs
  • Teacher experience, turnover, and professional development
  • Campus safety, bullying climate, and social-emotional support
  • Parent and community engagement levels
  • Quality of special education and gifted programs
  • How school zones and enrollment boundaries affect access

Scope Scores measure academic performance and school climate using public data. They are one lens among many. Full methodology

Frequently asked questions

Are the schools in San Jose good?
San Jose's 7 ranked elementary schools average a Scope Score of 49.4/100, which is 5.6 points above the California state average of 43.8. 25.2% of students exceed the state standard on average (state average: 21.6%). The Scope Score weights six dimensions: exceeded standard (40%), met standard (22%), grade-level growth (15%), chronic absenteeism (10%), suspension rate (5%), and ELPAC proficiency (5%). Data source: California Department of Education CAASPP 2025, analyzed by SchoolScope.
What is the best elementary school in San Jose?
The highest-scoring elementary school in San Jose is James Franklin Smith Elementary with a Scope Score of 76/100 and 57.4% of students exceeding the state standard. Rankings are based on SchoolScope's 2025 Scope Score, which measures academic performance and school climate using publicly available California data. See full methodology.
How do San Jose schools compare to the state average?
San Jose elementary schools average a Scope Score of 49.4 vs. the statewide average of 43.8 (5.6 points above). The exceeded rate averages 25.2% vs. 21.6% statewide. Chronic absenteeism averages 14.5% vs. 18.1% statewide. Scores range from 27.4 to 76.4, a 49.0-point spread.
How many schools are in San Jose?
San Jose has 7 ranked elementary schools with Scope Scores. Schools are ranked using a weighted composite of CAASPP test performance, growth trajectory, chronic absenteeism, and suspension rate. Schools with insufficient testing data are not ranked.
What does the Scope Score measure?
The Scope Score is SchoolScope's proprietary composite rating (0–100) based on six dimensions of publicly available California school data: the exceeded-vs-met standard split, overall proficiency, grade 3–5 growth, chronic absenteeism, suspension rate, and ELPAC English Learner proficiency. Unlike single-number ratings, the Scope Score separates students who "exceeded" from those who "met" the standard — revealing whether a school pushes students beyond proficiency or paces toward it. Full methodology and weights.